With each breath I take, I let go of attachment, and cease constructing in my mind all conceptions detrimental to understanding the nature of reality as it is.
Thus, "I, me, mine" are pronouns that describe the person writing these words, yet this person is not attached to such words. For "I, me, mine" are empty of inherent permanent reality.
Then, being the practice to prepare the mind, Buddha Recitation is also empty of permanent reality.
Also, the desire to be reborn in the Pure Land of Bliss is impermanent.
Thus the desire for rebirth inspires me to practice Buddha Recitation, a mindful practice.
Being a mindful practice, it settles my mind and helps me to prepare for meditation.
Thus Buddha Recitation ceases to be a pervasive mental construction, and becomes one of many tools in the Buddhist's tool kit to free the mind.
For it helps me to develop the Pure Mind that is pacified by the pure heart of compassion. This compassion is reflected in the idea that when I call out to Amida, it is actually him calling to me. Realizing this, I will continue to maintain the practice of Buddha Recitation before meditation.
Buddha Recitation helps me to remember the Buddha. As Buddha Remembrance is essential to my meditation, I practice daily.
As well, having realized the importance of always maintaining happy thoughts through understanding the essence of Master Hui-Neng's advice on the topic, I endeavour to remain in the present moment.
For all of this I am grateful to Amida Buddha.
Showing posts with label pure joy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pure joy. Show all posts
20130221
Pure Joy of Liberation
Enhanced by quiet meditation,
pure joy takes the disciple
the journey from ignorance to
wisdom through the mindful practice
of loving kindness — treating
all sentient beings with kindness,
and patience until compassion
uncovers the treasure of Buddha Nature.
When I uncover Buddha Nature,
that same pure joy arises in my heart,
yet I dare not blow my horn
lest anyone who has an "Aha!" moment
be disturbed by my happiness,
for this is the pure joy of liberation.
Such moments are a blessing
to us all, when they happen.
Though, if I had such a moment,
I would have doubts, because
the joy after meditation is
different from the manic happiness
that comes from an awful place.
True happiness is buoyed by the joy
attained through meditation.
For such joy is due to liberation
be it through chanting or via zazen.
Either practice helps one develop
the samadhi called one-pointedness,
until one achieves Nirvana.
If this happens suddenly or gradually,
then would it be easy or difficult
to achieve the goal of Buddhahood?
For both the Zen master
and the Pure Land devotee
aspire to become bodhisattvas
and are determined to
attain Buddhahood, though
this is not for the lazy and indolent,
but for the wise along us.
pure joy takes the disciple
the journey from ignorance to
wisdom through the mindful practice
of loving kindness — treating
all sentient beings with kindness,
and patience until compassion
uncovers the treasure of Buddha Nature.
When I uncover Buddha Nature,
that same pure joy arises in my heart,
yet I dare not blow my horn
lest anyone who has an "Aha!" moment
be disturbed by my happiness,
for this is the pure joy of liberation.
Such moments are a blessing
to us all, when they happen.
Though, if I had such a moment,
I would have doubts, because
the joy after meditation is
different from the manic happiness
that comes from an awful place.
True happiness is buoyed by the joy
attained through meditation.
For such joy is due to liberation
be it through chanting or via zazen.
Either practice helps one develop
the samadhi called one-pointedness,
until one achieves Nirvana.
If this happens suddenly or gradually,
then would it be easy or difficult
to achieve the goal of Buddhahood?
For both the Zen master
and the Pure Land devotee
aspire to become bodhisattvas
and are determined to
attain Buddhahood, though
this is not for the lazy and indolent,
but for the wise along us.
20060123
True Heart, True Mind (poem)
the true heart can taste
the difference between love and hate,
yet the boundless compassion
of the awakened
transcends this difference,
and the boundless wisdom
of the enlightened
sees love and hate for what they are:
manifestations of passion,
delusions rooted in desire.
the true mind knows all of this,
and thus so do I...
even so... but then...
and then again...
always do I return to thee,
smiling and laughing,
sharing the love that arises
from the innocence we create together.
the difference between love and hate,
yet the boundless compassion
of the awakened
transcends this difference,
and the boundless wisdom
of the enlightened
sees love and hate for what they are:
manifestations of passion,
delusions rooted in desire.
the true mind knows all of this,
and thus so do I...
even so... but then...
and then again...
always do I return to thee,
smiling and laughing,
sharing the love that arises
from the innocence we create together.
20060119
Your Heart Has Blossomed
If your heart has blossomed
and given birth to a wish
for what can't be expressed,
your mind not enmeshed
in sensual passions:
you're said to be
in the up-flowing stream.
-Dhammapada, 16, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
20060114
Consciousness as Creator
Mind precedes & initiates all phenomena,
mind is their chief, mind is their maker...
When one speaks or performs an action
with a mind that is internally all pure,
then happiness & pleasure follows,
like a shadow that never departs...
Dhammapada 2: "Phenomena are preceded by the heart, ruled by the heart, made of the heart. If you speak or act with a calm, bright heart, then happiness follows you, like a shadow that never leaves."
Difficult to detect and very subtle,
mind can seize & take up any object,
so let any wise being guard the mind,
for a guarded mind brings happiness...
Dhammapada 36: "Let the discerning man guard the mind, so difficult to detect and extremely subtle, seizing whatever it desires. A guarded mind brings happiness."
Neither mother, nor father, nor any other
family member can do greater good both
for oneself and for others as well, than
the well controlled & directed mind...
Dhammapada 43: Whatever a mother, father or other kinsman might do for you, the well-directed mind can do for you even better.
mind is their chief, mind is their maker...
When one speaks or performs an action
with a mind that is internally all pure,
then happiness & pleasure follows,
like a shadow that never departs...
Dhammapada 2: "Phenomena are preceded by the heart, ruled by the heart, made of the heart. If you speak or act with a calm, bright heart, then happiness follows you, like a shadow that never leaves."
Difficult to detect and very subtle,
mind can seize & take up any object,
so let any wise being guard the mind,
for a guarded mind brings happiness...
Dhammapada 36: "Let the discerning man guard the mind, so difficult to detect and extremely subtle, seizing whatever it desires. A guarded mind brings happiness."
Neither mother, nor father, nor any other
family member can do greater good both
for oneself and for others as well, than
the well controlled & directed mind...
Dhammapada 43: Whatever a mother, father or other kinsman might do for you, the well-directed mind can do for you even better.
20060104
Avoiding the Extremes Opens the Middle Way to Peace!
There are, friends, these two extremes, which not should be practiced by any, who has initiated purification: The hunt for sensual pleasures, which is low, vulgar, the common way of ordinary worldlings, ignoble, disadvantageous; and any practice of self-torture, which also is quite painful, ignoble, and rather disadvantageous! Without veering towards either of these extremes, the well-gone-beyond Buddha has awakened to the Middle Way, which leads to assured vision, to direct knowledge, which leads to ease, to peace, to certain understanding, to Enlightenment, to Nibbana. And what is that Middle Way, awakened to by the Buddha, which leads to assured vision, to direct knowledge, which leads to ease, to peace, to certain understanding, to Enlightenment, to Nibbana?
It is this very Noble Eightfold Path, which consists of:
It is this very Noble Eightfold Path, which consists of:
- Right View
- Right Motivation
- Right Speech
- Right Action
- Right Livelihood
- Right Effort
- Right Awareness
- Right Concentration
20051122
Look at this world all decked out
See it as a bubble,
See it as a mirage;
One who regards the world this way
the King of Death doesn't see.
Come, look at this world
all decked out
like a royal chariot,
where fools plunge in,
while those who know
don't cling.
-Dhammapada 13, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
See also http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/khuddaka/dhp/tb0/index.html#n170
In Chapter 13 of the Dhammapada, the message is clear:
The wise do not cling to the world -- they know much better than to be distracted by what it has to offer.
However, the underlying message is still to go out and participate in the world.
For the disciple may grow attached to thinking by being apart from it, one is unblemished by it. This is a subtle form of clinging to the world.
And the remedy for that is to cultivate happiness and joy.
See it as a mirage;
One who regards the world this way
the King of Death doesn't see.
Come, look at this world
all decked out
like a royal chariot,
where fools plunge in,
while those who know
don't cling.
-Dhammapada 13, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
See also http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/khuddaka/dhp/tb0/index.html#n170
In Chapter 13 of the Dhammapada, the message is clear:
The wise do not cling to the world -- they know much better than to be distracted by what it has to offer.
However, the underlying message is still to go out and participate in the world.
For the disciple may grow attached to thinking by being apart from it, one is unblemished by it. This is a subtle form of clinging to the world.
And the remedy for that is to cultivate happiness and joy.
20050509
Rise Above Passion: a Second Look (poem)
Chasing passion,
my desire has ended,
now to be fulfilled.
I chased the girl of my dreams.
Who can do better than that?
Time and time again
crawling after mirages,
I had fooled myself.
Now I rise above passion,
and start to know what love is.
Indeed, love makes clear
the heart shrouded in passion.
It controls the mind
with the music of the heart,
until passion goes away.
For love is greater
than the conditions we place
on the ones we love.
Though passion has brought me here,
it is love that holds me close.
my desire has ended,
now to be fulfilled.
I chased the girl of my dreams.
Who can do better than that?
Time and time again
crawling after mirages,
I had fooled myself.
Now I rise above passion,
and start to know what love is.
Indeed, love makes clear
the heart shrouded in passion.
It controls the mind
with the music of the heart,
until passion goes away.
For love is greater
than the conditions we place
on the ones we love.
Though passion has brought me here,
it is love that holds me close.
20050226
Rise above passion (poem)
Chasing passion,
my desire is endless,
always unfulfilled.
Why chase the girl of my dreams?
I can do better than that!
Time and time again
crawling after mirages,
I have fooled myself.
When I rise above passion,
I start to know what love is.
Indeed, love makes clear
the heart clouded by passion.
It controls the mind
with the music of the heart,
until passion fades away.
For love is greater
than the conditions we place
on the ones we love.
Though passion has brought me here,
it is love that holds me close.
my desire is endless,
always unfulfilled.
Why chase the girl of my dreams?
I can do better than that!
Time and time again
crawling after mirages,
I have fooled myself.
When I rise above passion,
I start to know what love is.
Indeed, love makes clear
the heart clouded by passion.
It controls the mind
with the music of the heart,
until passion fades away.
For love is greater
than the conditions we place
on the ones we love.
Though passion has brought me here,
it is love that holds me close.
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